Franchising

Franchising Overview

The secret to El Pollo Loco's success is our great-tasting food. Our menu has a broad and deep consumer acceptance across a wide span of demographic and socioeconomic sectors – and it’s a healthier alternative to traditional fast food.

In 1980, the first American El Pollo Loco opened on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, California. El Pollo Loco featured an authentic recipe of fresh chicken marinated in special herbs, spices and citrus juices, and then fire-grilled to perfection. The restaurant quickly became a local favorite.

Today, the tradition continues with signature dishes that satisfy consumers’ desire for flavorful food that fits well with today's active lifestyles. We're currently fire-grilling marinated chicken in about 400 company and franchise-owned El Pollo Loco restaurants.

Why El Pollo Loco?

Great-tasting Food

El Pollo Loco's success stems from the unique preparation of its award-winning pollo: fresh chicken marinated in a signature recipe of herbs, spices, garlic and fruit juices passed down over the years. Our chicken is then fire-grilled, hand-cut and served hot off the grill with warm tortillas, freshly prepared salsas, and a wide assortment of side dishes. Rounding out the menu are fresh, flavorful entrées inspired by the kitchens of Mexico, including grilled burritos, salads, tacos, quesadillas and our original Pollo Bowl®.

Hot Facts

Equal lunch and dinner dayparts

Solid track record with over 25 years’ experience

Continuous sales growth

Corporate Leadership

A tenured senior team of restaurant professionals providing long-term stability and vision.

El Pollo Loco FAQs

What areas are available for franchising?

Please refer to the Territories tab for areas that are currently open for development.

What is my initial investment?

Based on the amounts listed in our current FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document), you can estimate between $427,850 and $802,350 per unit. This does not include real estate estimates, which vary by area. Our franchise fee is $40,000 per unit.

What are the financial requirements?

Our minimum financial requirements are $1.0 million total net worth and $300K liquid assets per unit.

What are the operational requirements?

We require a minimum of five years of experience as an owner/operator within the restaurant industry. You must also live in the area of development in order to manage the restaurant on a daily basis.

What is El Pollo Loco's approval process?

Step 1–Online Inquiry

If you meet or exceed our financial and operational minimum requirements as stated above, and you are interested in an open territory (see Territories tab), complete the online inquiry form.

Step 2–Phone Conference

Once we receive your online inquiry form, one of our franchise development team members will set up a phone interview with you to further discuss your interest in franchising. If both parties are in agreement, you will be directed to Step 3.

Step 3–Franchise Application & FDD

You will be sent the El Pollo Loco Franchise Application and Franchise Disclosure Document Acknowledgement Form. Once completed and returned in its entirety with all required documentation, the FDD will be sent to you either electronically via download or hard copy via US Mail.

Step 4–Operational & Financial Approval

Your application will be reviewed internally and an operational assessment will be set up with one of our team members.

Step 5–El Pollo Loco Management Approval

Your application and business plan will be presented to our management team for review and approval. If approved, a Development Agreement will be prepared and sent to you.

How long does the approval process take?

Based on a completed application and all required documentation, the approval process typically takes between 6 and 9 months.

Do I have to find my own restaurant?

Yes, you are required to locate a site within your prescribed area of development with the assistance and guidance of our well qualified real estate staff.

Do I have to build my own restaurant?

Yes, you are required to build your restaurant, however, we do have project managers available to help guide you through every step of the process.

How long will it take to open for business?

Each area of development has different permit time lines and city requirements, however, we estimate 12-18 months for a free-standing building and 6–12 months for an endcap unit.

How much profit can I expect to make?

We do not make profit claims. There are strict regulations in the franchise industry that limit our ability to estimate how successful your restaurant will be.

Territories

AVAILABLE TERRITORIES

Highlighted Markets

El Pollo Loco is currently seeking highly qualified, multi-unit operators in the western United States.

PLEASE NOTE: We are not currently taking applications for international and Southern California locations (Los Angeles DMA and all markets south). No phone calls please. Calls are not accepted without a completed application.

RESTAURANT LOCATIONS

The Best Locations

Our team is committed to working with franchisees to identify the best possible locations for new restaurants. When potential sites are submitted, our real estate and executive team will review all pertinent site information to help select the best location.

For New York residents: This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by a prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. This is not an offer for a franchise. An offer for a franchise is made only by the means of the franchisor's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Although we will attempt to respond to your inquiry as soon as possible, please note that (i) none of the communications made through this website should be construed as an offer to sell any franchise in, nor is any such communication directed to, any jurisdiction requiring registration of the franchise before it is offered or sold in the jurisdiction, and (ii) we are unable to provide El Pollo Loco franchise information to any prospective franchisee that is a resident of, or who intends to establish a franchise in, any jurisdiction in which a registration is required, until the offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such jurisdiction and the required Franchise Disclosure Document (if any) has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law. These jurisdictions include: Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia and Wisconsin. ​

Process - What's Next

STEP 1. ONLINE INQUIRY

If you meet or exceed our financial and operational minimum requirements, and you are interested in opening multiple units in an open territory (see Territories tab), complete online Franchise Application form and submit for review.

We are not currently accepting applications for international and Southern California locations.

STEP 2. PRE-QUALIFICATION INTERVIEW

Once we receive your online inquiry form, one of our franchise development team members will schedule a phone interview with you to further discuss your interest in franchising, qualifications and markets desired. Your information provided may also require verification during this phase. Approval is subject to verification, overall qualification and availability.

STEP 3. FULL FRANCHISE APPLICATION & FRANCHISE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT

Following the pre-qualification interview, approved prospects will be asked to complete our full franchise application and will receive a copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Acknowledgement Form. Once completed and returned in its entirety with all required documentation, the FDD will be sent to you either electronically via download or hard copy via US Mail. We will schedule a follow-up meeting to review your documents for submittal and FDD details. Financial verification and background checks will also be required prior to the scheduled meeting.

STEP 4. OPERATIONAL & FINANCIAL APPROVAL

Your application will be reviewed internally and an operational assessment will be set up with one of our team members.

STEP 5. DISCOVERY DAY

Attend a discovery day at our Support Center to meet with our management team. If approved, a Development Agreement will be prepared and provided to you for finalization.

Franchise Inquiry

We are interested to hear from qualified food-service investors who the criteria below. If you believe you are qualified and are interested in applying, please complete a Franchise Application form shown below.

Have a minimum of 5 years of very recent or current restaurant experience as a multi-unit owner or primary operator.

Meet financial requirements of minimum net worth of $1.0 million per unit and $300,000 per unit in liquid assets

Share a commitment to our vision and mission

Have compatible business philosophies

General Details

Left Column

Right Column

*First Name

*Last Name

Company

*Street Address

*City

State and Zip Code

State Column

Zip Code Column

*State

*Zip Code

*Office Phone

*Email

*How did you find us?

*Country to Develop

*State to Develop

Financial Details

Left Column

Right Column

*Liquid Assets (minimum of $300,000 required)

*Net worth (minimum of $1.0 million required)

Additional questions

Are you able to develop the restaurant(s) within the next 24 months?
YesNo

Do you have experience negotiating real estate leases or purchases and constructions?
YesNo

*Are you able to secure your own finances for development?
YesAble to secure own finances
NoUnable to secure own finances Please indicate if you are able to secure your own finances.

*Are you a franchisee with another brand?
YesYes, I'm a franchisee with anothe brand.
NoNo, I'm not a franchisee with another brand. Please choose one.

Which Concept?
How Many Units?

*Do you have five years of restaurant experience as an owner/operator?
YesYes, I have five years experience
NoNo, I do not have five years experience. Please choose one.

*Do you have an equity/financial partner?
YesYes, I have a financial partner.
NoNo, I do not have a financial partner. Please choose one.

*Do you have an operational partner?
YesYes, I have an operational partner.
NoNo, I do not have an operational partner Please choose one.

*Do you or your operating partner live in the area you would like to develop?
YesYes, I live in the area.
NoNo, I do not live in the area. Please choose one.

*How many restaurants do you want to develop?3 to 67 to 1516 to 25More than 25 Please choose one.

FAQ

FAQs

What areas are available for franchising?

Please refer to the Territories tab for areas that are currently open for development.

What is my initial investment?

Based on the amounts listed in our current FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document), you can estimate between $900,000 and $1,755,000 per unit. This does not include real estate estimates, which vary by area. Our franchise fee is $40,000 per unit.

What are the financial requirements?

Our minimum financial requirements are $1.0 million total net worth and $300K liquid assets per unit.

What are the operational requirements?

We require a minimum of five years of experience as an owner/operator within the restaurant industry. You must also live in the area of development in order to manage the restaurant on a daily basis.

What is El Pollo Loco's approval process?

Step 1–Online Inquiry

If you meet or exceed our financial and operational minimum requirements as stated above, and you are interested in an open territory (see Territories tab), complete the online inquiry form.

Step 2–Phone Conference

Once we receive your online inquiry form, one of our franchise development team members will set up a phone interview with you to further discuss your interest in franchising. If both parties are in agreement, you will be directed to Step 3.

Step 3–Franchise Application & FDD

You will be sent the El Pollo Loco Franchise Application and Franchise Disclosure Document Acknowledgement Form. Once completed and returned in its entirety with all required documentation, the FDD will be sent to you either electronically via download or hard copy via US Mail.

Step 4–Operational & Financial Approval

Your application will be reviewed internally and an operational assessment will be set up with one of our team members.

Step 5–El Pollo Loco Management Approval

Your application and business plan will be presented to our management team for review and approval. If approved, a Development Agreement will be prepared and sent to you.

How long does the approval process take?

Based on a completed application and all required documentation, the approval process typically takes between 6 and 9 months.

Do I have to find my own restaurant?

Yes, you are required to locate a site within your prescribed area of development with the assistance and guidance of our well qualified real estate staff.

Do I have to build my own restaurant?

Yes, you are required to build your restaurant, however, we do have project managers available to help guide you through every step of the process.

How long will it take to open for business?

Each area of development has different permit time lines and city requirements, however, we estimate 12-18 months for a free-standing building and 6–12 months for an endcap unit.

How much profit can I expect to make?

We do not make profit claims. There are strict regulations in the franchise industry that limit our ability to estimate how successful your restaurant will be.